Method of operating electric loom-shuttles



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L. W. LOMBARD. METHOD OF OPERATING ELECTRIC LOOM SHUTTLES.

' Patented Jan. 30, 1894.

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LEVI W. LOMBARD, OF SAOO, MAINE, ASSIGrNORTO JOSEPH N. SMITH AND BENJAMIN F. SPINNEY, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS,

METHOD OF OPERATING ELECTRIC LOOM-SHUTTLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 513,615, dated January 30, 1894..

' Application filed Ie'bruary 6, 1893. Serial No. 461,097. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEVI W. LOMBARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Saco, in the county of York and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Operating Electric Loom-Shuttles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to apparatus such as looms in which a shuttle is employed, and consists in a'novel method of actuating and controlling the shuttle.

The object of my invention is .to do away with pickers or similar mechanical devices which mechanically engage with the shuttle and serve to throw the same through the shed.

A further object of my invention is to dispense with the necessity for using shuttleboxes or mechanical stops to receive the shuttle at the end of its throw.

By my invention the necessity of reciprocating any part with the shuttle itself is dispensed with.

My invention consists essentially in electrically shifting or varying a magnetic field which operates on the shuttle as upon an armature, in contradistinction to mechanically shifting or varying such magnetic field by reciprocating or moving the magnet by which it is produced. The shuttle being subjected to the action of such shifting or changing magnetic field is caused to traverse the shed in the same way as it would if magnetically attached to a moving magnet moving along the shuttle race.

My invention consists further in actuating a shuttle by a progressive shifting of electric activity or polarity in a line parallel to the shuttle race and in sufiiciently close proximity thereto to constitute a moving magnetic field engaging the shuttle. To cause this shifting of electrical activity or polarity any means may be employed as, for instance, an electric commutator connected to the coil or circuit in which the electricity may flow.

Another feature of my invention consists in stopping or checking the movement of the shuttle at the end of its throw or traverse by establishing a magnetic field at the end of the race in position to operate on the armature of the shuttle, as hereinafter described.

In the drawings:Figure 1 ,is a sectional elevation through an apparatus suitable for practicing my invention. Fig. 2, is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3, is a perspective view of a commutator that may be used for causing a shift in the electric activity of the coils.

In the above drawings 2, 2, represent the warp threads; 3, 3, the heddles; l, the shed, and 5, the reeddents, while the swinging frame termed the lay is omitted, said device usually being employed to beat home the filling, as the work progresses. These several instrumentalities are operated in the manner now generally adapted for weavinglooms, but the elements for actuating them are omitted as not bearing upon my invention.

The shuttle indicated at 10, is made to constitute an armature by attachment of soft iron or other good magnetic material applied thereto in any desired manner as, for instance, by attachment to one end thereof of a piece of soft iron as at 12, so that it may be actuated by theshifting magnetism or electric field parallel to the race or guide.

By the term armature as herein employed, I mean a shuttle having any device adapted to move by a magnetic or electric field, from one point to another.

As a simple and effective device for furnishing,'through the action of a commutator or other means, the shifting magnetic field or electric state, two series of electromagnetic coils 7, 7 may be employed, arranged transversely of the loom and beside the shuttle race or path. These coils may be mounted on core rods 8, 8', the ends of which are secured in uprights 9, '9. The coils may be. connected in any desired Way. When used with a commutator such as hereinafter described they maybe connected in pairs. For convenience the coils are wound on a soft iron core consisting of the core bars 8, 8', and are insulated from one another as indicated.

In the present instance the upper series is provided with brushes 13, one for each electro-magnet; one end of the wire 14, connects with the brush, while the opposite end of the Wire is united by a wire to the lower corresponding electro-magnet. The opposite end of the latter is joined to a wire 16, leading to the electric source of supply. The feed wire 17, has metallic contact as shown in Fig. 1, with the circuit closer 18. This latter device consists preferably of a revoluble spindle or shaft 19, adapted to be rotated by any suitable mechanism (not shown), while its speed is to be at the command of the weaver. Upon this shaft is attached or inserted a spiral rib 20, which has a lead of a semicircumference for the length of the shaft. At either end a short circular portion 21, or dwell, as it is termed, is provided in order to retain the shuttle at each end of a traverse to allow the shed to operate before a return traverse of the shuttle takes place, this latter act being effected by the spiral rib upon the opposite half of the shaft 19. This circuit closer may be arranged to have the rib 20, in contact with three successive brushes in order to intensify or enlarge the magnetic field. The cover 23, is intended to prevent lint or dust from accumulating upon the brushes and other parts, and at the same time it presents a better and more finished appearance. The lower series of electro-magnets is similarly inclosed by the shield or tube 23. In Fig. 2, said shields are removed, but such portions as are adjacent to the shuttle are indicated in section.

As before stated the pickers and shuttleboxes are not required, since the shuttle is held within and prevented by magnetic attraction from leaving the magnetic field. As

but one end of the shuttle is provided with a soft iron magnet, the magnetic field is extended unequally of the reed on one side, in order to allow the shuttle to clear the warp and permit proper movement of the shed without compelling said shuttle to pass beyond the limits of the magnetic field.

The reed may be stationary as shown in Fig. 1, and is preferably attached to the inclosing shields 23, 23', while the shuttle is provided with a lateral extension 25, adapted to reach to the meeting points of the threads composing the shed and fitted with an aperture 26, through which the filling from the shuttle escapes and is laid in its proper place, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The shuttle is provided with a guide 27, which is adapted to pass over the lower threads of the shed, said threads being upheld and supported by that portion of the shield 23, indicated at 28.

As the magnetism is equally strong above and below the shuttle, the latter will be centered between the two rows of magnets and will not bear upon the lower threads of the shed with any degree of pressure, but passes lightly over them, the guide serving to maintain the shuttle in a straight line, while the magnetic action tends to hold said shuttle in its proper position against or closely adjacent to the reed.

The operation of this invention, as embodied in the above described instrumetalities is as follows: Assuming the shuttle to be in the position, as shown in Fig. 2, in readiness to make a throw or traverse; upon rotation of the circuit closer and when the spiral rib on the latter has wiped the first brush the shuttle at once advances, the soft iron head following the shifting magnetism and keeping its position opposite the center of the magnetic attraction. As the circuit closer rotates the shuttle continues to advance until said closer has made a half revolution when the shuttle has completed a traverse, and is now in the position indicated by the broken lines. In this position it is stopped by the magnetism at the end of the series of coils. In order to support the shuttle in the position shown by said dotted lines, the shields are extended or longitudinal pieces 29, are fastened or otherwise secured to said shields. At this time the circular portion of the rib, or the dwell 21, now exercises its function and by remaining in contact with the last electro-magnet serves to keep the latter in activity and holds the shuttle stationary and for such time as may be required to operate the shed. When this act has taken place the rotation of the shaft brings the other and corresponding portion of the spiral rib in contact with the brushes, but with a converse action ;that is, by causing the electro-magnets to be energized successively in the opposite direction. In this way an opposite throw is effected; thus it will be seen that as rotation, more or less rapid,'is imparted to the commutator or circuit closer, so is the movement of the shuttle, which moves according to the changes in the position of the magnetic field or center from one end of the field to the other.

By reference to Fig. 2, where the electrical connections are indicated it will be seen that the several electro-magnets composing the field are connected in pairs, as before described. I do not limit myself to the desired manner of forming electrical connection between the two rows of magnets which produce the field for the shuttle race, nor to the exact mechanism herein shown for changing the magnetic center from end to end of the field; since various expedients maybe adopted and may operate equally well with such as are here represented.

Novel features of construction which I have shown in order to describe the invention embodied in the description herewith are presented in another application for patent filed by me March 18, 1893, Serial No. 466,682.

What I claim is 1. The method of actuating and controlling loom shuttles electrically, consisting of first creating a magnetic field upon both sides of the shed and adapted to serve as a shuttle race, second in forming the shuttle, as a ma net, and third causing the magnetism created.

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in the field to traverse from one end of the field to the other and so govern the throw of the shuttle in accordance with the changes in position of the magnetic center through the field, substantiallyas explained and for purposes stated.

. 2. The method of operating a loom shuttle electrically in contradistinction to mechanically, consisting in electrically shifting or varyinga magnetic field and employing the same to operate upon the shuttle as an armature, thereby causing it to traverse the warp and lay the filling requisite for the production of textile fabrics,- substantially as described.

3. The herein described method of operating loom shuttles, consisting in progressively shifting the location of the active coils in a series of coils parallel to the shuttle race and operating upon a shuttle constituting an armature in contradistinction to moving the coils bodily.

4. The herein described method of checka magnet or magnets parallel to the shuttle race and maintaining or prolonging the activity of a coil at or near the terminal to limit the throw of the shuttle.

6. The herein described method of relieving the lower warp threads of pressure from the shuttle, consisting in centering the latter by magnetism in the shed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEVI W. LOMBARD.

Witnesses:

H. E. LODGE, FRANCIS O. STANWOOD. 

